Finding a way for teams to work together more effectively and so create
high performing teams is probably the holy grail of management.
Life Orientations® facilitates rapid
and meaningful discussions of behavioural differences between team members
through its positive and non-judgmental approach. It provides a common
frame of reference to assess team needs and strengths. It indicates specific
strategies for encouraging each individual to use their preferred style
productively and controlling counterproductive excesses. Users find the
overall approach conducive to development of trust and cohesiveness.
What makes the team tick? Diagnostic analysis
Pre-workshop data enables assessment of individual and group strengths,
vulnerabilities, decision-biases, intra-group compatibilities and conflicts,
potential problems and strategies for leveraging existing talents and
abilities. The Lifo® method Organizational
Culture Surveys can provide information as to the broad context in
which the team works and the pressures are likely to impact on all employees.
the Lifo® method Team Development
Survey examines the specific content of team functioning and often
elicits frank statements about current issues.
If communications are going wrong, understanding
how others might see us may throw some light on the problem!
Within the workshops themselves, the Lifo® method
Feedback Surveys provide 360 degree data about how others perceive
individuals. The information can be focused about the team leader, specific
individuals, or everyone. This data is always related back to the self-perception
Survey which forms the basis of the Lifo Method. Teams gain an enormous
amount from being able to explore the motivations, communication styles,
strengths and preferences of their colleagues and, very often, conflict-fraught
situations are discussed productively and with little emotional stress
because of the shared framework of the Lifo model.
So what might a Team-Building model look like? A
model that has been used successfully in a number of organizations has
the following design characteristics.
Phase 1. Pre-work
Completion of two questionnaires: - Life Orientation Survey - the Lifo® method
Team Development Survey.
Phase 2. Individual interviews
All members of the team are interviewed for their perceptions of issues
and needs of the group. Specific examples are sought to build relevant
exercise material for the workshop. Summaries of the Lifo® method
Team Development Survey data are discussed for clarification and verification.
Reservations concerning the workshop itself are explored.
Phase 3. Workshop
A two-and-a-half day workshop is conducted as the initial team building
experience.
Phase 4. Individual reports
A personal Strength Management‘ Report is prepared for each individual.
This is confidential and will be distributed during the workshop.
Phase 5. Group report
A report on the team's functioning will be prepared from the data on the
questionnaires, survey and individual interviews. This will be distributed
during the workshop and used as a basis for discussion and problem-solving.
Phase 6. Follow-up consultation
Consultation is provided as needed - completion of action items designated
in workshop is reviewed with operational groups. Six months later, a one-day
follow-up session is held to identify progress and to build additional
skills.
